Xbox Owner Sues Microsoft for $500 Billion (Yes, Billion)

[MarsProbe]

I hope Microsoft pay him the $500 Billion, but in Microsoft Points.

It would be so funny if they deposited 4 Quadrillion Microsoft Points, that's 40000000000000 non transferable Microsoft Points, into his account, then terminated his account as he requested.

If that happened, I would be suitably amused. Either 400,000,000,000,000 MS Points or 33,333,333,333 "copies" of Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game would be suitable recompense for this simple fellow.

I'd be interested to know how he came to the conclusion that the inaction on Microsofts part meant he was owed $500 billion?

 

[TimtheBigDaddy]

Hiring descrimination for his Aspergers Syndrome? WTF!? I have Aspergers Syndrome and so do a whole lot of other people! I think even Bill Gates had it! Holy shit there is so much conflict here.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

All this guy did was give himself a very large attorney bill, and probably the MS court costs as well if it actually goes before a judge. No case in history would have that ridiculous amount attached to it (not even the big tobacco wins), and all a judge would do is laugh (and by laugh I mean smack his gavel) and rule in favor of MS.

 

[babinro]

I like the point that is trying to be made, though it has no chance of being remotely successful. Corporations can play the system but individuals don't have that same luxury...even if they are legally in the right.

Imagine if you will, that this case is successful and leads to Microsoft shutting down its gaming console operations as a result. I'm curious what kind of backlash this man would get.

 

[Joseph Alexander]

All this guy did was give himself a very large attorney bill, and probably the MS court costs as well if it actually goes before a judge. No case in history would have that ridiculous amount attached to it (not even the big tobacco wins), and all a judge would do is laugh (and by laugh I mean smack his gavel) and rule in favor of MS.

yes but(as stated in earlier posts) that on how the legal system here in the US works others can claim the case to back up their own cases against companies changing the terms without actually telling you.

 

[Simeon Ivanov]

Does Microsoft even have that much money? This guy is either crazy, or an asshole or a genius ... or all three!

 

[Aeonknight]

So he's changed the contract and used that to screw microsoft over.

If he wins, he gets $500bn.

But what if he loses? The USA has the same common-law, precedent-based legal system that we do. That means that if he loses, a precedent will be set against changing contracts unilaterally to screw signatories.

That means that a precedent will be set which forbids large companies from unilaterally changing contracts, including TOS agreements, and using that to screw their customers.

He's not really out to make money, he's out to change laws!

It's a win-win situation! Brilliant!

Oh hey, someone that actually gets the point rather than jumping to the conclusion "he's just trying to make money, no way it'll happen."

He's doing exactly what companies do to the consumer. He's turned the table and made it as ludicrous as possible to prove a point. Failure to respond != acceptance of new terms, no matter how reasonable/outrageous they are. If it takes some random jerk to make courts see that, then it'll hopefully prevent corporations like Microsoft from doing this to consumers anymore.

 

[Verlander]

Kinda sounds like a dick. Sorry, but I have no time for fools like this. Of course he won't win anything, no one will take this twat seriously.

Sure, but he isn't trying to be any greater a dick than MS or any other corporation that pulls this same exact BS on their consumers. That's like saying a rape victim is a dick if she tries raping her attacker right back. Most gamers are willing to bend over and take whatever crap the corporations are willing to give, I'm glad there's one who figured out how to give it right back. I'm sure he wont get what he's asking for but I hope he wins something.

And besides, what's $500Bil to MS?

Over five times what they own? Actually, thats a great example of an interesting Mathematical anomoly in humans that I've been writing about, which goes that the more distant the number from the person (in this case large sums of money) the less we can differentiate. Someone immediately would know the difference between £1 and £5, but less people acknowledge the difference between, say, a millionaire and billionaire, despite the fact that the poorest billionaire is a thousand times richer than the poorest millionaire. In this case, Microsoft own roughly $100 Billion in assets, and so suing them for five times that is pretty damn ridiculous.

Anyway, I digress. I agree that big corporations are arseholes, but I don't believe that an act is acceptable if it's done in revenge. Raping someone because you've been raped isn't right, nor is murder for murder sake. Remember, stuff like Sept 11th was based in revenge as well, but it doesn't make up for the massive losses of life on either side of that situation.

 

[Sporky111]

If this actually goes anywhere, I wish him luck. I absolutely hate the "the Terms of Service are subject to change without notice" part of so many contracts. Practice like that should be illegal. And though I know there's no way he'll get the absurdly large amount of money he thinks they owe him, even if it ends in settlement it'll make things change.

 

[Owen Robertson]

It's fun to be a dick. Ruining someone else's day with a few simple words is priceless entertainment my friends. But then again, I only do it to those who ruin days in the first place, like this guy.

 

[Redratson]

I hope Microsoft pay him the $500 Billion, but in Microsoft Points.

It would be so funny if they deposited 4 Quadrillion Microsoft Points, that's 40000000000000 non transferable Microsoft Points, into his account, then terminated his account as he requested.

That would be epic
guy - "you didnt give me my money!"
Microsoft - "Yes we did, we gave it to you in microsoft points. all of which total up to equal 500 million."
guy - "THAT DOESNT COUNT!"
Microsoft - "Yes it does, you just werent specific enogh "

 

[gorfias]

"Microsoft neither responded nor terminated his subscription, which he argues means that the company accepted the new contract by default."

I know 100% certain this is illegal in NL. Some semi-illegal businesses tried this on consumers, and oh man, did that anger the judge in question, calling it criminal, aggressive and worthy of jailtime...

No idea in the US of A, but I'm pretty sure a judge will (and should, very hard) slap him out of the court. And then Microsoft countersues for slander or something just for the fun of him having to pay a lawyer for twenty years. Ah, justice!

I agree. In the US, this is contracts 101. "Contract By Default?!?!?" I get a dozen offers in the mail a day. I throw them away. Suppose they all read, "Failure to respond = acceptance"? I'd be bankrupt in a month.

A contract is about a "meeting of the minds". A multi billion dollar company failing to respond to an individual contact is hardly indicative of this.

Anyway, back in the day, case law was on the side of the person not responding. I think Bill Gates will be fine.

 

[BabyRaptor]

I can't wait to see how this plays out. There's gonna be an epic *****-slapping.

 

[StraightToHeck]

THERE IS NO FACEPALM BIG ENOUGH

 

[Sight Unseen]

Two Words: Penalty Clause.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_damages

This "contract" doesn't make any sense.

 

[lacktheknack]

There is NO POSSIBLE WAY he can justify those damages. NONE.

This is possibly the second dumbest lawsuit I've ever seen, second only to <link=http://www.nme.com/news/p-diddy/54739>this.

 

[Owen Robertson]

I don't believe that an act is acceptable if it's done in revenge. Raping someone because you've been raped isn't right, nor is murder for murder sake. Remember, stuff like Sept 11th was based in revenge as well, but it doesn't make up for the massive losses of life on either side of that situation.

Entirely incorrect. Revenge is the only thing worth living (and almost always dying) for. Revenge is such a popular concept, that 75% of literature, film, and video games have stories based entirely off of it. You punch, I kick. Punch to kick, knife to gun, injure to kill.

>

 

[Tiger Sora]

Well as stupid as this all is and how good it makes me feel in my current condition. I hope at least it can set a precedent so big business can't push us around so much. On whatever.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Asperger's Syndrome? Would explain why he though this was a good idea without necessarily researching how legalize works. (and why he has done this so many times).

This is stupid. I know corporations do legal mumbojumbo to screw you over but somehow I think there teams of lawyers and lots of laws and regulations keep them sitting high and dry while Joe schmo trying to use there logic against them probably doesn't have the same knowledge and resources. I appreciate the idea but I don't think that's how it works.

I also don't think this is a practice to way to "fight the power." It does remind me of a song though.

 

[Ildecia]

I hope Microsoft pay him the $500 Billion, but in Microsoft Points.

It would be so funny if they deposited 4 Quadrillion Microsoft Points, that's 40000000000000 non transferable Microsoft Points, into his account, then terminated his account as he requested.

thats terrible.

but funny.

its terribly funny.

I would love to see that headline.